TIMELY

PETA REACHES OUT TO GROWING MUSLIM COMMUNITY WITH WEB SITE COVERING EVERYTHING FROM THE HAJ TO HALAL

Kindness to Animals a Tenet of the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) Teachings

Kuala Lumpur — With a new Pew Forum study showing that one out of every four people in the world is a Muslim, PETA Asia has unveiled IslamicConcerns.com, a site designed to help guide Muslims who are interested in exploring animal-friendly alternatives to everything from lamb kebabs and leather jackets to the sacrifice of goats on the holy days of Haj. The site provides information on what Islamic scholars have said regarding a vegetarian diet and discusses what the Qur'an and the hadiths say about human interaction with animals. It also addresses subjects such as the use of animals in lethal product tests and the care of animals in the home.

"The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that there is an estimable reward for showing kindness to every living being," says PETA member Nadia Montasser. "The prophet also says that God has no mercy on one who has no mercy on others."

Most animals on factory farms never see the sun, breathe fresh air, or feel the ground beneath their feet. They are often injured and die during transport. Sharia law prohibits causing needless pain to any animal before slaughter. The flesh of improperly killed animals is haram (forbidden) under Islam.

The Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) teachings also call for compassion to dogs and donkeys, who are among the most abused animals in the Middle East. He told of a prostitute whose sins were forgiven by Allah because she had filled her shoe with water for a thirsty dog, and he admonished his followers for throwing stones at a bird and for beating a donkey. He also warned that the punishment on Judgment Day for a woman who locked up a cat and left the animal to starve would be torture and hell.

For more information, please visit IslamicConcerns.com.